As of August 27th, plug-in solar has become legal across the UK. That means all households can benefit from greener energy without needing to spend a ridiculous amount of money on solar panels.
Solar panels are no longer reserved for those with, let’s say, a disposable income. With panels promised to start from around £400, they’re not cheap but they’re undoubtedly more accessible to many more households than a £15k+ set-up. And, perhaps most importantly for me, you don’t need permission to install plug-in devices either.
What is plug-in solar?
In case you missed it, plug-in solar panels are much smaller than traditional systems and connect to a standard UK mains outlet via a microinverter. They work by harnessing the sun’s solar energy to create a direct current (DC) of electricity. This DC then passes through the microinverter to turn it into alternating current (AC) of electricity. From here, you can use this energy to run appliances without needing to rely on the grid.
The beauty of plug-in solar
As someone who has rented countless flats in her adult life – all at varying levels of disrepair but that’s a story for another day – I know that I’m at the mercy of my landlords and their ironclad tenancy agreements. And that means I’m not able to make any major changes to the property.
While I can just about live with questionable design choices, doors hanging off their hinges and uneven stairs, what I’ve always missed as a renter is the chance to utilise solar power. I mean, it’s literally free energy that’s not only better for the environment but can also save money! Why wouldn’t you make the most of this? But of course I’ve never thought that I could reasonably ask a landlord to splurge on my behalf.
That’s why the government’s introduction of plug-in solar is so exciting, as I don’t need to get a landlord’s permission as it’s not a major change to the building. And, most importantly, if I ever move out, I can simply take my panels with me and set them up again.
I should disclaim that the government does advise that you let your landlord know that you will be buying a plug-in panel. A landlord cannot refuse a plug-in panel unless they have a genuinely good reason, say there’s safety risks or limited space.
Lowering energy bills
As plug-in solar is very new to the UK, and we’re yet to review any systems, we simply don’t know how much we can save. To comply with UK legislation, plug-in panels must not exceed 800W – a much lower figure compared to traditional solar panels that require a costly installation by a professional. With that in mind, naturally you shouldn’t expect the same levels of savings as your neighbour with the fancy set-up.
Having said that, the government has stated that plug-in panels can save households “up to £110 a year” on their bills, while each plug-in solar kit can provide up to “20% of an average home’s electricity use”.
Of course, the exact amount that you’ll save will depend on how much sun the panels are able to get. It’s a shame the UK’s legalisation of plug-in panels has come quite late in the year, especially since the sun has been in full force for the past four months.
Where to buy plug-in solar panels?
The government has confirmed that we’ll be able to buy plug-in solar panels from major retailers like Currys, B&Q, Screwfix and Amazon. There has also been discussion that stores like Lidl and Iceland will also stock approved plug-in panels too, which means you’ll be able to just pop a panel in with your weekly shop.
However, at the time of writing retailers are yet to confirm any prices for plug-in solar panels. This is something of a worry as, although the government has said we can expect panels to start from £400, that’s only a rough guide. If panels are more expensive, then that could be a harder pill to swallow for most households. In fact, realistically £400 is quite a high starting price for most homes.
With that in mind, I really hope the government will introduce incentives to help make the panels a more affordable option for all households. Low-income homes especially are who would appreciate lower energy bills, but perhaps might not be able to afford a £400+ panel to begin with.
